Corruption and development

Corrosive corruption

THE use of public office for private gain benefits a powerful few while imposing costs on large swathes of society. Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index, published on December 1st, measures the perceived levels of public-sector graft by aggregating independent surveys from across the globe. Just five non-OECD countries make the top 25: Singapore, Hong Kong, Barbados, Bahamas and Qatar. The bottom is formed mainly of failed states, poor African countries and nations that either were once communist (Turkmenistan) or are still run along similar lines (Venezuela, Cuba). Comparing the corruption index with the UN's Human Development Index (a measure combining health, wealth and education), demonstrates an interesting connection. When the corruption index is between approximately 2.0 and 4.0 there appears to be little relationship with the human development index, but as it rises beyond 4.0 a stronger connection can be seen. Outliers include small but well-run poorer countries such as Bhutan and Cape Verde, while Greece and Italy stand out among the richer countries.

Mandatory generic prescribing is a very useful, practical and secure
way to save money, avoid licensing corruption, end over-prescribing.

In Greece, the amount of money saved could be impressive.

This is because in Greece over-prescribing, under the counter deals,
inefficient public healthcare management, and corruption have existed for decades and have geometrically increased
pharmaceutical expenditure.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Greece is by far the first European Country in pharmaceutical
expenditure per capita! [14] [15]

Two months ago the Ministry of Health working together with the Ministry of Social Welfare decided to copy the Spanish law. They changed plans the next day, after some meetings with officials working for Pharmaceutical Companies!

[2] Health Syst Transit. 2010 Nov;12(7):1-177.
Greece health system review.
Economou C. Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.
World Health Organization 2010, on behalf of the European Observatory on health systems and Policies.

All Athens’ Children’s Public Hospitals demand directly from patients 30,000 euro in advance in order to perform vital transplantations: State money is not enough.

Hospitalized patients in the Public Sector are asked to bring their own pharmaceuticals, since there aren’t any left in Hospital Pharmacies: suppliers stopped providing pharmaceuticals on credit because Public Hospitals already owe them billions.

In Greece, authorities have recently discovered that 120,000 deceased State employees (that they know of) have been regularly receiving their pensions in their bank accounts, for many years. [1] [2] [3]

It is yet another example of the legendary corruption and
inefficiency that pervades the Public Sector and contributes to the
augmentation of Greece's debt. [4]

Bulgaria still has major problems with corruption and organized crime. [1][2][3]

Bulgaria's own Interior Minister Tzvetan Tzvetanov states that his Country remains a paradise for organized crime and corruption! [4][5][6][2]

Forged University degrees and fake University medical diplomas still constitute a thriving and highly lucrative criminal activity in Bulgaria. [7][8]

Even Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov admits that the problem exists and that he cannot evaluate its extension! [8]

Turkey does not recognize any University degree issued by Bulgarian Universities! [9][10]

GMC officials should also revoke and suspend recognition of all medical diplomas issued by Bulgarian Universities, from 1990 onwards, until proper international and local investigations manage to eliminate this dangerous phenomenon.

Tens of thousands of medical doctors in Europe have paid for fake diplomas

Dear Editors,

Diploma forgery has become a billion pound industry. There exist many accreditation and degree mills in Europe, and the rest of the World, which fabricate tens of thousands of medical degrees every year. [1][2][3][4]

Turkey does not recognize any University degree issued by Bulgarian Universities! [14][15]

If someone cannot pay the sum to receive the degree immediately, the racket offers regular frequency academic studies with enhanced "assistance" during exams, for less money.

Many students, in order to avoid stigma, apply for transfer to an eminent University of another Country, frequently Greece, during the last semester of their studies. Thus, their degree will appear issued by this other University.

Tens of thousands of Greeks have studied [28] and continue to study [29][30][31] medicine in Romania and Bulgaria, despite healthcare system breakdown in those Countries. [32]

Tens of private Institutions offer immediate admissions in various Universities, without any entrance exams!

Many more Greeks applied for transfer to a Greek University coming from those Countries.

Greek Authorities have failed many times in the past to deal with foreign bribery scandals, academic forgeries, accreditations. [25][26][27]

Students are seen as customers, crash PhD courses are organized, in English, to attract even more foreigners.

One wonders how can a diploma in Psychiatry or Psychology be obtained, in English, without any interaction whatsoever with a patient, due to language barriers!

GMC officials must keep in mind that every foreign bogus medical doctor dreams to relocate and work in the U.K. in order to make his "investment" pay off.

Medical degrees from Greek and East European Universities should be thoroughly scrutinized.

Dr Stavros Saripanidis turned down an offer to enroll in a Romanian University, without entrance examinations, some decades ago, in post-communist poor Romania. Instead, he gained full scholarships, year after year, and graduated with honours from Italy’s most difficult University Medical School (only 17% would ever graduate).

Dr Stavros Saripanidis had to work in Greek public hospitals alongside with many accredited doctors who did not turn down that offer.